Using up soap leftovers

[DSJ]

I remember my mother making bars of soap from small leftover bars during World War II. She heated them all up together in some way but I can't recall how.

Does anyone know how this can be done? It seems to wasteful to throw small bits away & I have more than enough in the airing cupboard making the towels smell nice!

Many thanks.

[suzie1]

tightwad!just buy some new bars, this is not the world war II era

[DSJ]

I was hoping for a sensible answer, not abuse.

[suzie1]

sorry :-( i dont know, maybe she added a bit of water to them and then heated them up and moulded them into small bars of soap, not a bad idea really, might try it myself.

[suzie1]

and it wasnt really abuse was it? oh well..........

[KARL]

I am uncertain as to how it was done before, but if you put the soap in a bowl and into a microwave oven set on defrost for a short while repeatedly until it softens then that works but some find the resulting soap unsightly because it is slightly uneven in texture. Another method is to use a purpose made press/mould of sorts (you can make one from bits if you are good with your hands) and very slightly moisten the soap before pressing it into a new bar and letting it dry out of the mould. The gadget was sold a couple of decades back, made of plastic and called Soap Sam - that is what I use and it works fine.

[suzie1]

check out ebay for the gadget

[DSJ]

Thank you for your suggestions. I hadn't thought of using the microwave but I'll certainly try it. Waste not, want not!

[brenda]

Good for you DSJ-- nice to see someone being creative and saving money at the same time .Wish you well.

[ummmm]

They use to sell them in a catolouge like 'Kleenezzey (sp)'

[RJUKL]

I found a way to use up all the small bits of soap.I put them into one of those small net detergent bags which used to be supplied with the tablets and draw the cord closed and use the bag of soap just like that.

[Panic Button]

Do you darn your socks aswell?

[buildersmate]

When the old bar gets too tiny and you bring out the new bar, merely stick the small piece onto the new bar (by making it wet and pressing the two pieces together).

[DSJ]

Thank you all. Can we now we now bring this thread to a close? I have received some excellent suggestions & will certainly work through them.

And no, Panic Button, I don't darn socks because I don't wear them.

[annie0000]

i do the same as builders mate - I never have any left over bits as i mould them on to the new bar.